Teesside's Former Leeds defender Jonathan Woodgate is backing his Elland Road mentor to drag the club out of trouble.

Eddie Gray was handed the reins on a caretaker basis following Peter Reid's dismissal this week and England international Woodgate, who was sold to Newcastle last January as the club's financial problems hit hard, is convinced that he will do a good job.

Middlesbrough-born Woodgate is currently battling his way back from surgery to repair a double hernia, and while he may have a lot on his mind, he is able to spare a thought for the club with which he made his name.

"I am absolutely devastated at the position Leeds are in at the moment," he said.

"I love Leeds through and through. I was there from the age of 13 to 23.

"I wish them all the luck in the world and I am just praying to God that they don't go down because I would be absolutely distraught.

"But I think Eddie Gray will do a terrific job. He brought me through the youth team.

"We won the FA Youth Cup under him, the reserve league under him - he brought me into the first team. He is like a mentor to me.

"Eddie is first class and a lovely bloke as well. I reckon he would keep them up without a doubt.

"He is a brilliant man, a fantastic manager and will have the players' respect from day one," Woodgate said.

Gray took charge of the side for the first time for John Taylor's testimonial at Cambridge on Tuesday night, a game which they won 5-3 with Cyril Chapuis bagging a hat-trick.

However, it is the business of Barclaycard Premiership points and ultimately survival which matter, and as the club hierarchy sets about the task of appointing Reid's successor, it will be he who will have to restore the shattered confidence of the players.

Gray has already admitted that he is interested in the job on a permanent basis, while Nottingham Forest's Paul Hart and Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock have been installed among the favourites to take the Elland Road hot seat.

However, both clubs have moved to warn that they intend to hang on to their managers, with the Blades issuing a thinly-disguised hands-off message following Warnock's implementation of their plans for sustained success.

"A central part of this policy has been the manager and his role in bringing in and motivating the players, and the board will do everything in its power to ensure the club remains on the same path to success," said vice-chairman Terry Robinson.

And Leeds' hopes of prising No 1 target Hart away from the City Ground suffered a blow when the Nottingham Forest manager declared his commitment to his current club.